I've been a fanfiction reader for a number of years now and I've seen a problem in fanfiction that's been around for awhile, but nothing is ever done to solve it. Authors of fanfiction get A LOT of respect, with a number of rules and protections in place for them. But what about the readers? I guess, for some, they feel that we're being allowed the privilege of reading these stories, so we don't need the same level of respect and protections that the authors do, but we're just as important in fanfiction as the authors are. This is not something that is done for money, so what are the authors doing it for? Some do it for themselves, but many do it because they want readers. They want people to read their stories, they want responses, they want criticism (some), and they want acclaim (some). We're equally important in the fanfiction world.

Now to address my specific complaint. Constructive criticism. It's a tricky thing. Most authors claim they want it, only some actually do. Far too often mislabeled 'flaming', it is nonetheless VERY important to fanfiction, and honestly, to life in general. How do you get better at something without criticism? How will you know what areas to improve or what you're doing wrong without it? Criticism is the lifeblood of good writing, but it's being stifled. There are many reviewers, myself included, who rarely review anymore because of the kinds of responses they get to criticism. Recently, I sent a series of reviews to an author, some jokes, some positive commentary, and some constructive criticism and received a truly heinous response that included the implication that I was a pedophile, that I needed mental help and that I was an odious human being. All because of a bit of criticism. And when I tried to file an abuse report to the site, and I will call them out directly, AO3, there was no place for me to file that type of complaint. I had to choose the closest related category: 'harassment', again, a protection put in place for the author. And the response I received? 'Well, you commented negatively so you should have expected a negative response.' No, I should have expected a mature response to constructive criticism. What is wrong in fanfiction that it's okay for authors to abuse their readership if they have the nerve to comment critically in a constructive manner, but not okay for a reader to send that critical comment? 

I'm starting this petition for readers such as myself who want to put their foot down and say that it's not okay to abuse us because we're criticizing your work. This is also for the authors who WANT the constructive criticism so they can become better writers, who are losing out on it because of writers (and host sites) who are advocating reader abuse which in turn leads to them choosing to either not review at all or to review in the most frivolous ways possible (i.e. 'great chapter, update soon').

For those willing to stand with me, I hope you will sign this petition to let these sites know that readers deserve protection as well. Please pass it on as well. I’m spreading it to places that I know that readers gather and I’m hoping to get it sent places that I don’t know of so as many people as possible, who believe that readers deserve protection in the Terms of Services of various fanfiction sites. Something that says that an author will receive a warning for an abusive response to a reader’s criticism (whether it’s criticism or a flame will be judged) and that repeated violations will result in a more serious response.

I’m sure some people will be tempted to brush me off as someone just sore because an author responded in kind to my nasty reviews (if there’s a way to contact me, this is a first time starting a petition for me, and you REALLY want to know, feel free to do so, and I’ll send you a copy of my reviews, what they were in response to, and the response I received), but whether or not you think this is true, I know we’ve ALL encountered THAT type of author and that’s what I ask you to sign in response to.